Bay Path Unable to Hold Out With 3-1 Loss to Mitchell
NEW LONDON, Conn. - The Mitchell College women's soccer team picked up its first victory of the season on Saturday afternoon by a 3-1 final in its conference opener against Bay Path College.
Junior Paige Ehnot (West Hartford, Conn.) scored two goals and assisted on the third for the Mariners (1-6-0 overall, 1-0-0 NECC). Senior Silvia Galvan (Wilbraham, Mass.) netted her first goal of the season for the Wildcats, who dropped to 1-6-0 overall and 0-2-0 in conference play.
Bay Path took a quick lead when Galvan scored in the seventh minute. She beat a Mitchell defender to a loose ball in the box and slid to send a shot just inside the right post.
The lead didn't last for long, as sophomore Nikki Hoxie (Winsted, Conn.) tied things up in the 14th minute. Ehnot set up the play by winning a ball in the midfield and dribbling down the left sideline. She then slipped a pass across the field to Hoxie, who was streaking straight to the goal. Hoxie took the pass in stride, took a few touches and then buried a shot into the right corner of the goal.
Hoxie returned the favor just over six minutes later, tipping a ball away from a Bay Path defender to an open Ehnot in front of the net. Ehnot then beat the keeper to the right side for her first goal of the season.
The Mariners had two chances late in the half to extend the lead but couldn't capitalize. Sophomore Angie Smith (Meriden, Conn.) sailed a free kick just over the crossbar with 2:30 remaining, and a chip by Ehnot with a minute to play was also high.
Mitchell didn't waste any time cushioning its lead in the second half, as Ehnot scored just over a minute into the stanza. She weaved through the defense and netted a shot from 15 yards out to put the Mariners up 3-1.
Mitchell outshot Bay Path by a 26-7 margin. Sophomore goalkeeper Rachel Cunningham (New Hartford, Conn.) finished with two saves and earned the first victory of her career. Senior Samantha Gunseth (Swanzey, N.H.) recorded 14 saves in goal to keep Bay Path in the game.
Mitchell will next play at Lesley University on Tuesday, September 29 at 8 p.m. Bay Path will next play at Hampshire College on October 2 at 4 p.m.
Story Courtesy of Mitchell Sports Information
